These critical skills are usually picked up along the way for most people. Did your parents show you how to introduce yourself and then practice it? Odds are they didn't. That's where the RCC fills the gap.
How to Introduce Yourself Drill 1
Watch the video!
In the Classroom
1. Demonstrate the skill with the points on your reference sheet.
2. Have students pair off and practice back and forth about three reps each.
3. Have the students form two lines facing each other. Have each side introduce themselves once, as demonstrated in the video, and then shift to the next student and repeat.
TIP: Look for the kids who struggle at first but quickly improve. Have them finish the RCC segment with a quick demo.
NO GOOD JOBS!!! "That is what you get with practice. Nice!"
Vanessa Van Edwards
Author of Captivate, The Science of Succeeding with People
Teaching Good Manners (No Video)
Few things build a solid foundation of confidence than knowing how to navigate social situations. That starts with good manners. In most martial arts schools, that lesson begins and ends with requiring students to address instructors as "Sir" or "Mam." That's it.
These 12 lessons can be as specific or as broad as you like. For instance, you can describe a polite greeting and leave it there, or you can have the students face each other in two lines and go down the line and greet each student by name or whatever the lesson is.
The same for introducing themselves. Introducing a friend etc... The lessons will stick more if you physically practice them.
Lesson 1: Begin by teaching them, at their current age and understanding, why politeness matters. Highlight how it enhances others' enjoyment of their company and encourages reciprocity in social interactions. When you’re nice to people they are more likely to be nice to you.
Lesson 2: Instill phrases like "please" and "thank you" into their daily language.
You can demonstrate the difference between saying, “Hand me that glove.” Vs “Would you hand me that glove please?” “Thank you.”
Lesson 3: Encourage the regular use of polite keywords such as "please," "thank you," "would you mind" and "may I," to reinforce their importance in everyday interactions.
Discuss the difference between “may I” and “can I.”
"May I" and "can I" are both ways to ask for permission, but they have slightly different connotations and usage.
"May I" is more formal and polite. It implies a request for permission and acknowledges the authority of the person you're asking. For example, "May I borrow your pen?" suggests a respectful inquiry.
"Can I," on the other hand, is less formal and direct. It implies capability or ability rather than permission. For example, "Can I borrow your pen?" suggests a simple question about whether it's physically possible to borrow the pen, without necessarily acknowledging the authority of the person being asked.
Using "may I" conveys a greater sense of respect and politeness.
Lesson 4: Reinforce good manners by ensuring that only polite requests are granted, emphasizing the effectiveness of polite behavior.
Lesson 5: Remind younger children to use polite phrases in various situations even if there are no adults around to hear it.
Provide some examples of situation when they are interacting with teachers or staff at school or in a store and even their peers.
Also, when they see someone who may need some help moving something, or picking up stuff. Offer to help.
Lesson 6: Practice polite greetings. Stress the significance of eye contact during introductions and expressions of gratitude, teaching them the value of respectful communication.
Lesson 7: Teach children to control their volume appropriately, adapting to different social contexts to enhance their politeness.
This is good to demo and/or practice in groups of three with one interrupter while the other two are in a conversation about anything.
Lesson 8: Address the challenge of interrupting by establishing clear expectations and providing strategies for respectful communication.
Teach them to watch and listen to what is going on before interrupting and then lead with a, "Excuse me please, may I ....?"
Lesson 9: Prepare children for social engagements by discussing expected behaviors and practicing polite greetings beforehand. Practice meeting someone for the first time and also introducing friends to each other by finding a common interest, if possible. "Joe, this is my friend Mike. He plays baseball too."
Lesson 10: Coach children on specific phrases for introductions and farewells, empowering them to navigate social interactions with confidence. "Hi Jane, nice to meet you. What do you like to do after school?" or "Hi Jane, nice to meet you. That's a cool shirt."
Lesson 11: Encourage children to clean up after themselves at the table, instilling responsibility from a young age.
Lesson 12: Teach children to express gratitude politely, even if they dislike a particular food, emphasizing the importance of tactful communication.